Hydraulic Fracturing for the Production of Shale Gas

Hydraulic fracturing (also termed “fracking”) is the process used, along with horizontal drilling, to extract unconventional natural gas (shale gas, tight gas or coalbed methane) and tight oil from reserves deep in the earth. Fractures are created in relatively impermeable rock (such as shale) by injecting large amounts of fracturing fluid (a mixture of water and chemicals) deep into the earth under high pressure.

Some earthquakes have been caused by hydraulic fracturing including a 4.8 magnitude earthquake in January 2016 in Fox Creek Alberta. (Alberta Energy Regulator, 2016)

Communities are affected by the many large trucks used for hydraulic fracturing and transport of water, supplies and products, which are sources of noise, dust and exhaust emissions. (Rivard et al., 2014)

Environmental impacts of shale gas extraction in Canada (Council of Canadians, 2014)The Expert Panel on Harnessing Science and Technology to Understand the Environmental Impacts of Shale Gas Extraction, Council of Canadian Academies. To understand the risks associated with shale gas development in Canada, the Minister of Environment on behalf of Environment Canada asked the Council of Canadian Academies to assemble a panel of experts to answer: What is the state of knowledge of potential environmental impacts from the exploration, extraction, and development of Canada’s shale gas resources, and what is the state of knowledge of associated mitigation options?

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Last updated

Dec 15, 2016

Permission is granted to reproduce this document in whole, but not in part. Production of this document has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada through the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health.